THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD May 15, 2013 Page 9A Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] Hiawassee’s Turner rides coast-to-coast on bicycle Trystin Miller does it again By Joe Collins it a lot easier when you don’t Towns County Herald have to carry all your gear and Staff Writer make your own bike repairs along the way,” said Turner. Turner had the time of Towns County’s own his life and was able to see the Pat Turner recently completed country at a pace that allowed what many biking enthusiast you to actually see what many believe would be a trip of a miss in a car. He met many lifetime. people as he pedaled from He pedaled his way from state to state and documented San Diego, Calif., to St. Augus- his trip with photos and a daily tine, Fla. finishing the 3,000- journal. mile journey in less than two “The best part of the trip months, beginning on March was meeting all the different 8, and completing his trip on people along the route. The April 29. He had planned to friendliest people we met were do this after his retirement and in Louisiana and that was prob- he didn’t let any moss grow on ably my favorite part of the trip. his bike seat before he began It was not uncommon to find as he retired in February of yourself on someone’s porch On a cold April morning, Trystin Miller fought this 12-pound, this year. 4 oz Hybrid to the boat while fishing on Lake Nottely with his during a rest just sitting and father. After a photo, the fish was released safely back into the The 64-year-old Turner talking,” proclaimed Turner. lake. His father commented, “this lake is full of really great fish started bicycling in 1991 and is Biking on major road- and the Crappie are spawning to boot so take a kid fishing, they a veteran of rides of 400 miles ways and side roads can be a will never forget.” or more, but was always left dangerous hobby and Turner wanting more when the trips offers a few words of advice he Trout stocking sites ended. follows while riding. “I would “I had participated in advise riders to be visible and week of May 6-10, 2013 the Ride Across Georgia and wear something fluorescent, a few week long rides and at Hiawassee’s Pat Turner road his bicycle from California to Florida always act like a car by signal- the end of those rides I wanted in less than two months. ing and following the rules of Fannin: Big Creek, Hemptown Creek, Hothouse Creek, to keep going. That is one of layers to keep warm. The first agents. They would drag these the road and most importantly Rock Creek, Toccoa River, and Toccoa River Tailwaters (below the reasons I attempted this morning we faced temperatures huge tires along the fence in you need to be predictable. If Lake Blue Ridge). long distance ride. I knew at in the mid thirties with a steady the evenings so they could see you are in a group, try and ride Lumpkin: Etowah River and Nimblewill Creek. the end of the day, that for at wind and that was cold on a the tracks of people who were single file. These habits can Union: Canada Creek, Cooper Creek, Suches Creek, and least two months, I would be bike. It seems each state had coming into the country. It keep you from harm and may Winfield Scott Lake. riding on and that appealed to it’s own assault as we faced was just one of the many in- save your life,” said Turner. Note: Information is subject to change. Please call the me,” said Turner. “I just didn’t cold, wind, heat, sand and of teresting and unusual things we When asked what it takes hatchery at 706-838-4723 for questions. The hatchery also pro- have the time until I retired in course traffic. The winds of saw along the way,” described to make a trip like this Turner vides trout for the state. Please contact Georgia DNR for infor- February.” West were probably the Turner. replied, mation on sites stocked by the state. There were 24 brave worse because of all the sand The group averaged “It mostly takes time. souls that started the ride in you had to endure. It would about 70 miles a day and had You have to have plenty of time Baseball VFW Golf California and the same num- blow in your face and down 6 days of rest during the entire to make this trip and being fully League news ber ended the ride on the beach you shirt and it hurt. I was glad trip. This was a predetermined retired made it possible for me. Camps at YHC Last Thursday, 5/9/13 we of St. Augustine. The average to leave that part of the trip in route and there was a support You must be in shape because Summer Baseball had a great showing of 20 play- age of the group was 60 years the rears although it took 19 team to help with setting up the trip is grueling and one Camps at Young Harris Col- ers. Must be the great weather. old with the oldest being 71 and days to cross the state,” stated camp, bicycle repairs and pre- needs an adventurous spirit. lege online registration now Anyway the winning team had the youngest at the ripe old age Turner. paring meals. I had a great time and would open! TheRockSports.com. a pretty good day. Came in with of 48. It was a grueling trip that “We camped near the “We contracted our trip certainly recommend this trip Two camp weeks: a score of 66, 6 under par. Three had it’s many ups and downs border one night and we all through Bubba’s Pampered to anyone who is fit enough to June 3rd and July 16th, three birdies on each side. Team as they traveled from state to ventured into Mexico for din- Peddlers and they really took make it. camps each week. members were Danny Barrett; state along the Southern Tier ner. We traveled along the care of us. They set up camp “It was the trip of a life- Quality instruction for George Darden; Bob Lehoul- Route that comes very close to Mexican border while in New every night and prepared all our time for me and I would do it every level of player. 706- lier; and Frontz Goring. Good the Mexican border. Mexico, Arizona and Southern food, washed all our clothes again in a minute, but I think I 897-2363. shooting fellas Hoping to be “It was cold when we California and we saw the and even provided a massage will wait a while for now.” able to join ya’ll soon. started and we had to dress in fence and of course the border therapist at each stop. It makes Chuck Golf... continued from page 8A NASCAR 2013 the State competition. solid scores to bring home the By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter “Typically Amber scores title because in Class A they lower than she did at Area. I only count the two lowest John Middlebrook upheld the look for her to play better at individual scores for the team Gibbs’ teams finish 1-2 at Darlington 25-point penalties to Penske State and we will need her and total. All the girls are good appeared However, an incident drivers and the team to play well to win the golfers and aren’t scared to go headed to victory lane in Sat- between him and Kasey Kah- , as well as fines title. Diehl was very good at low and this may be the edge urday’s Sprint Cup race at ne, has Kahne expecting an and part of the suspensions. Area as was Manto filling the they need to win. Darlington, but with 11 laps apology from Busch. It oc- He created the perception second and third spots. Diehl’s Good luck and play well left in the 367-lap race, Busch curred on lap 333, after Kah- that the violations were still score counted as the second girls. Win or loose we are had a right rear tire go down. ne had managed to edge by major, but the team should team score for our winning all very proud of what the This allowed Busch in Turn 3 for the lead. get some benefit of the doubt, total of 198.” said Keller. team has accomplished this to take the win, while Busch Busch moved ahead off Turn since they were working in a The team will need two season. had to settle for sixth. 4, then headed to turn 1 side gray area in the rulebook, and “It’s awful sweet to by side. It appeared Kahne not having raced the unap- win here,” said Kenseth. went into the turn a little too proved parts, shouldn’t result Sonny... continued from page 8A “The car was really, really in such hefty suspensions. fast. Busch went low into the kind and I love him dearly.” fast. We had a lot of turn, but slipped a little. Come on NASCAR, He is the sweetest and nicest The students at Towns in it. We just kind of got Kahne slid up and quit acting like a big gorilla. boy that anyone could come off. The racetrack changed, brushed the wall. PHOENIX RACING across. He has been a blessing County schools love Sonny and they look at him as an we got much looser than we “My car moved and Matt Kenseth, winner of Dar- CALLING IT QUITS to my family and me. anticipated. We really could then just spun out,” said Kah- lington race, Furnished by Toy- Unable to find a long- “God knew what he was equal. never get it. The second to ne. “I don’t know if he actu- ota Motorsports term sponsor for either of doing bringing him into our Students and teachers last pit stop we made we had ally touched me or not. If he ing to keep up with the 54 his No. 51 Sprint Cup team, lives and I am so thankful.” alike profess one after another it closer, but then it took off would have just entered nor- car (Kyle Busch),” Sadler or No. 1 Nationwide team, Cross Country Head that he is a gift from God and and wasn’t going to be near mal like he entered the whole said. “I was trying to get up James Finch said he is going Coach Jeannie Ledford has they could not imagine life good enough. I don’t know race there would have been there and lead some laps, just to call it quits. known Sonny for years and without having met him. He what they changed the last pit no issues and I would have went in there too hard and “I’m contemplating the she described her thoughts has had an amazing affect on stop. been leading off turn 2. got loose and had to make a rest of this year, and I don’t this way, Hoffman who is interested in “I told them about four “He just didn’t want decision whether to spin out know if I want a sponsor,” “He has a tremendous working with children like laps into the run, if we were that to happen, so he blew or try to correct it. I overcor- Finch said. “Sunday was my positive affect on our student Sonny in his future and has going green to the end, we turn 1. Whether he hit me or rected and spun out.” 776th start in NASCAR be- body and everyone that meets inspired many to do better were going to be pretty good. not, he still caused that whole , Joey tween the Nationwide and him loves him. He is part of with what they are given. Thankfully we saved the best deal with screwing up and Logano, Matt Kenseth, Kyle Sprint Cup. That’s a lot of our school and the students “It is nice to see kids for last.” just mind fade. He’s had a Larson, , Sam weekends. I’m considering treat him just like anyone like the students a TCHS ac- The win was the third few of them this year when Hornish, , and pulling the plug later in the else. He loves sports and he cept someone for who they are for Kenseth this season, and I’ve been around him.’’ were the re- summer.” and Tyler (Hoffman) get in and treat them accordingly,” the 27th of his career. , Juan maining top-10 finishers. Finch, 62, said Phoe- the gym and just have a ball. declared Thomas. , Montoya, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Top-10 points leaders nix Racing will not enter It is just amazing to see how To quote Sonny’s favor- Kenseth’s teammate was run- and Ryan Newman rounded after 9 of 33: 1. Smith-342, 2. any races after the Brickyard the kids interact with him. He ite WWE wrestler John Cena, ner-up. out the top-10. Hornish-314, 3. Sadler-300, 400 at Indianapolis Motor is named so perfectly because “Rise above the hate.” Sonny “For me, we just kept Top-12 points lead- 4. Allgaier-299, 5. Vick- Speedway. he is Sonny, just like a clear really is one of the gang. grinding away,” said Ham- ers after 11 of 36; 1. John- ers-293, 6. A. Dillon-290, “I have not been able to beautiful day. He is one of a lin. “It was one of those days son-423, 2. Edwards-379, 3. 7. Kligerman-287, 8. get the right amount of fund- when we got our car better, Kenseth-364, 4. Earnhardt Scott-284, 9. Bowman-258, ing, the economy is pretty pit crew picked us up posi- 359, 5. Bowyer-349, 6. Kah- Larson-248 bad, and a lot of people tions, and took us to the sec- ne-326, 7. Keselowski-326, DID NASCAR SUFFER A don’t want to do it,” Finch ond spot.” 8. Kyle Busch-325, 9. Almi- SETBACK continued. “I’m getting kind ran a steady rola-317, 10. Harvick-315, NASCAR needs to re- of burned out. I think it is race, and as the laps wound 11. Menard-315, 12. Gor- think their penalties. time for me to do something down, moved up to third. don-311. Last week, the penal- else.” “Our team is ready,” “ROWDY” GETS 56th ties assessed by NASCAR Weekend Racing: It’s said Gordon. “We had good NATIONWIDE WIN against Penske Racing and the Trucks and Cup teams track position, but we just Kyle Busch completely Racing were re- this weekend at the one and couldn’t get it right until dominated Friday night’s Na- duced after the appeals pro- one-half mile Charlotte Mo- there at the end. I thought we tionwide Series race at Dar- cess was completed. tor Speedway. For the Cup were really good. Each week lington. In addition to win- Joe Gibb’s owner teams, it’s the annual all-star I see the team getting better ning the pole, he led 107 laps points penalty was reduced event, a non-points night of and better.” of the 147-lap race, on the from 50 to 12, and his sus- racing. was way to his 56th career Na- pension was eliminated, Fri., May 17, Camping fourth and tionwide win. while driver Matt Kenseth’s World Trucks, race 5 of 22; came in fifth. “We definitely had a fast points penalty was reduced Starting time: 8 pm ET; TV: For Kyle Busch, it was car, but sometimes fastness from 50 to 12. SPEED. another frustrating night. He isn’t always best here (Dar- Kenseth’s win at Kan- Sat., May 18, Sprint had the dominant car through- lington), said Busch. “You sas will now count for the Cup All-Star event; Start- out the entire race, leading want to be good at both ends Chase. ing time: 7:30 pm ET; TV: 265 of the 367 laps, but the here. There’s a lot of speed in The manufacturer’s SPEED. apparent victory slipped away 1 and 2, so you’re going to point penalty against Toy- Racing Trivia Ques- as the race neared its end. have to take advantage of that ota increased from 5 to 7 tion: How many Cup cham- Busch left the track as best you can. Three and 4 points; pionships did David Pearson without commenting. His is an end where—I’m not go- Kenseth’s crew chief win? frustration is understandable; ing to say slower is faster— Jason Ratcliff’s suspension Last Week’s Ques- he was fixing to win, and a but maintaining a minimum has been reduced from 6 tion: Who is ’s misfortune smacked him, speed is better down there.” races to 1, but his fine re- teammate at Richard Petty again. However, it could’ve learned mains at $200,000. Motorsports? Answer. It is been a lot worse. He could’ve about turn 4 in a very practi- In the Penske case, . hit the wall. He could’ve cal way, he spun out. Despite crew suspensions were re- You may e-mail the spun. The good news is he the spin, he came back to fin- duced from six point races Racing Reporter at: hodg- Sonny “The King” Goodman acknowledges his loyal subjects during to two on its final appeal. [email protected]. Towns County High School’s 2012-13 Homecoming festivities. Photo/ jumped two spots in points, ish second. Lowell Nicholson and he still storms off. “I was pushing it, try- Chief appellate officer